Workshop 6.

1 Contact Offset Control

14.5 Release

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

1 2012 ANSYS, Inc. December 19, 2012 Release 14.5

Goals
Problem statement:

The model consists of a workbench archive file representing a valve and piston
assembly with loads applied (see figure on left). As the figure on the right shows, a gap exists between the piston and bore (0.39 mm). Our goal is to: Solve the model as is with no interface treatment (results will be non physical). Solve the model a second time using an appropriate initial contact offset to close the gap.

2012 ANSYS, Inc.

December 19, 2012

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Project Schematic
Begin a new Workbench session and, from the Project page, choose Restore Archive . . . and browse to the file Contact_Interface.wbpz and Open (location provided by instructor).

When prompted, Save using the default name and the same location.

From the Units menu verify:

Project units are set to Metric (kg, mm, s, C, mA, N, mV). Display Values in Project Units is checked (on).

2012 ANSYS, Inc.

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. . . Project Schematic
1. From the Static Structural system double click (or RMB > Edit) the Model cell.

1.

2. When Mechanical opens, verify the units are set to Metric (mm, kg, s, mV, mA).

2.

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Preprocessing
3. Verify the boundary conditions are set as described here:
Force (20N in +Y) applied to the end of the piston shaft. Fixed supports applied to the 4 holes in the valve. Remote displacement applied to the inside face of the piston:
X=0 Y = Free Z=0 RotX = 0 RotY = 0 RotZ = Free

3.

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. . . Preprocessing
4. Check the current contact settings:

Notice the contact type is frictionless and that no offset has been specified in the form of an interface treatment. All other settings are left as default.

Recall that a 0.39 mm gap exists between the piston and valve. With the boundary conditions as set, we should expect the piston to be initially free as the force is applied.

4.

0.39 mm Gap

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December 19, 2012

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Solution
5.

Solve the model:

5.

When the solution completes a message should indicate possible rigid body motion has occurred. A quick check of the magnitude of total deformation should confirm the message. A magnified deformation shows the 2 parts have separated as expected.

2012 ANSYS, Inc.

December 19, 2012

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Background

Background: how would we find the size of the gap?

One method is to select the circular lines for the piston and the bore and request the Selection Information.

From the information panel we can see 8.89 8.5 = 0.39 mm gap.

2012 ANSYS, Inc.

December 19, 2012

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. . . Background

Background: how would we find the size of the gap?

A second method is to insert the Contact Tool at the Connections branch and Generate Initial Contact Results.

The initial information shows a Gap of 0.3851 mm.

2012 ANSYS, Inc.

December 19, 2012

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Preprocessing
To address the gap in the contact return to the contact details:
6. In the Offset field enter 0.39.

Verify the Interface Treatment is set to Add Offset, No Ramping.

7.

Re-solve the model.

The model should solve in several iterations. 7. 6.

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Postprocessing
8. The deformation and stress results now appear to be reasonable.

Total Deformation

Equivalent Stress on the valve

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2012 ANSYS, Inc.

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. . . Postprocessing
9. Insert the Contact Tool into the Solution branch.

Check the Contact Status to verify contact has been maintained.

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2012 ANSYS, Inc.

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Conclusions
Notes: The initial solution verified that rigid body motion was occurring when we tried to apply a force to parts which were separated by an initial gap. We were able to determine the gap size using 2 different methods in order to determine how to address the contact problem. With the gap size verified, we input an initial offset at the contact, effectively closing the gap.

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2012 ANSYS, Inc.

December 19, 2012

Release 14.5